Basket liner



J. 5. RICE BASKET LINER Nov. 1, 1932.

Filed April 11, 1929 2 SheetsSheet 1 I in lllmm gwuentoi RICE BASKET LINER Nov. 1, 1932.

2 Sheets-s 2 Filed April 11, 1929 Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN S. RICE, 0F BIGLERVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO RICE, TREW & RICE CO INC., 01 IBIGLERVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA BASKET LINER Application filed April 11,

This invention relates to basket liners and it is an object of the invention to provide a liner of this kind particularly adapted for use with baskets adapted to be filled with fruit and the like and which provides an effective means to protect the content of the backet from injury by coming in contact with the wall proper of the basket.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a liner of this kind of a split type having means for connecting the free end portions thereof so that the liner will hold a column of fruit and the like without any independent support and before being applied within a basket. 1

An additional object of the invention is to provide a liner of this kind initially of a split type and having associated therewith means for connecting the free end portions of the liner, said connecting means being such to permit relative slippage of said free end portions to assure the proper fitting of the liner within a tub, and to allow the filled liner, after the tub is removed, to accommodate itself to the size of the basket applied thereover, thus ,assuring proper filling of the basket and substantially eliminating injury to the liner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a liner formed of relatively strong material and also to provide a liner normally of a split type and having a member for connecting the free end portions of the liner, said member being of a length to project beyond the upper marginal portion of the liner when applied within a basket to facilitate the removal of said member and also to provide a hinderance or obstruction to the proper .application of the basket lid whereby efi'ective warning may be given to the packer that said member has not been removed.

The invention-consists of the details of con struction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my im proved basket liner whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for uf sahas will be hereinafter more fully set ort 1929. Serial no. 354,366.

. drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustratin a liner constructed in accordance with an em odiment of my invention as initially used in connection with a packing operation;

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the liner in the step of packing wherein said liner supports its content in column without independent support, a basket being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines in partly applied position;

Figure 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a basket in proper upended position with the coupling member of the lines projecting above the liner offering hinderance to the proper application of the basket lid;

Figure 4 is a View in perspective of my improved liner as herein disclosed with its free end portions connected;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view in plan of one of my improved liners in blank form.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the liner illustrating with greater clarity the direction of the grain of the stock.

My improved liner L as herein embodied comprises a sheet of material such as cardboard or the like, which possesses sufficient strength as to substantially eliminate breakage of the liner when applied within a basket as "a result of the pressure imposed thereon by the weight of the basket content, such as apples and the like. The liner L is formed from a paper stock wherein the grain a is disposed in a general direction lengthwise of the liner thus assuring the liner affording a strong wall not liable to breakage. This dispositionv of the grain also causes the liner to have a natural tendency to readily open or spread out, thus facilitatclose contact.

ing the 'applicationof the liner in working position.

The liner, as illustrated in Figure 6, is initially of a split form and in blank comprises an elongated sheet disposed lengthwise upon a desired curvature and which is provided at desired points thereon with the openings 1 to assure desired circulation of air through the completed package to offset deterioratlon of the basket content.

The liner L in its initial or blank form has its curvature arranged on a radius determined by the size of the shell or tub S in which it is to be applied. When the end portions of the liner are in overlapping relation the liner will substantiate a truncated cone to approach the internal contour of the side wall of the shell or tub S with which the liner, when applied, is adapted to have provided with a plurality of openings 2 substantially in radial alignment, said openings preferably constituting slots having their longitudinal axes disposed lengthwise of the blank as illustrated in Figure 6 or circumferentially of the liner when in applied position. The openings or slots 2 at each end portion of the liner L are so positioned that when the end portions of the liner are in overlapping relation the openings or slots 2 at one portion will register with the openings 2 at the other end portion.

When the end portions of the liner are in overlapping relation, the liner Wlll simulate a continuous wall and will be in proper formation as illustrated in Figures 2'and 4 for use in the desired packing operations.

The end portions of the liner L are maintained temporarily in desired overlapping relation through the medium of an elongated member 3 of an desired material. This member 3 is of a ength materially in excess of the width of the liner when in blank so .that when in applied position an end portion of the member 3 will project beyond an open end of the assembled liner.

My improved liner is particularly adapted for use in connection with a well known method of packing fruit and the like employing a facing form F and shell or tub S although my improved liner can be employed under certain conditions independently of the shell. As herein embodied, after a layer of fruit has been properly positioned upon a that when the shell or tub S and liner L are applied upon the facing form F, the connecting or coupling member 3 will project above the top thereof. As the basket B is forced over the filled liner the bottom of the basket will come in contact with this extended end of the member 3 so that when the basket and liner with its load is up-ended, the member 3 will roject above the top of the basket and there y provide means whereby the member 3 may be readily removed by the packer before the basket top or lid T is applied. In the event the packer should fail to remove the member 3, the upper projecting portion thereof, as indicated in Figure 3, will offer hinderance or obstruction to the proper application of the top or lid T thus necessitating the packer removing the member 3 before the top or lid T can be properly applied.

With the member 3 removed it will be readily understood that the liner L is of a split type thereby assuring the proper expanding of the liner L if required within the basket as the fruit or other content is shaken down therein. By this the basket B maybe properly filled.

It is also to be'stated that before the member 3 is removed the registering openings or slots 2 will permit relative slippage between the overlapping end portions of the liner L so that initially the liner L can effectively structed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be'assembled and employed, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. As a new article of manufacture, a split basket liner for use in packing fruit and the like having a plurality of openings in its end portions, the openings in one end portion reglapping relation, and a substantially rigid member threading through said openings,

said openings and substantially rigid member being so proportioned to provide adegree of adj ustability in assembling the basket over the filled liner and permitting the liner to accommodate itself to the content and basket.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a split basket liner for use in packing fruit and the like having a plurality of openings inits end portions, the openings in one end portion registering with the openings in the other end portion when said end portions are in overlapping relation, and a substantially rigid member threading through said open ings, said openings and substantially rigid member being so proportioned as to provide a degree of adjustability in assembling the basket over the filled liner and permitting the liner to accommodate itself to the content and basket, said substantially rigid member being of a length to extend beyond a margin of the liner to facilitate removal of said member.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a split basket liner for use in packing fruit and the like having a plurality of openings in its end portions, the openings in one end portion registering with the openings in the other end portion when said end portions are in overlapping relation, and a substantially rigid member threading through said openings, said openings and substantially rigid member being so proportioned to provide a degree of adj ustability when the liner is applied within a tub whereby expansion and contraction of said liner is allowed to accommodate it to the size of the tub.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a split packing liner for use in packing fruitand the like, comprising a strip of lining material having perforated ends, and a fastener passing through the ends and securing them together in overlapping relation, said ends providing fastener receiving registration of perforations when the ends are overlapped by different amounts whereby adjustment of the size of the liner may be secured in the application of the liner within a tub to accommodate the liner to the size of the tub, said fastener serving to maintain the filled liner in shape after the tub has been removed.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a split packing liner for use in packing fruit and the like, comprising a strip of lining material having a plurality of perforations in each end, and an elongated pin passing through the ends a plurality of times and securing them together in overlapping relation, the ends providing pin receiving registration of perforations when the ends are overlapped by different amounts whereby adjustment of the size of the liner may be secured in the application of the liner within a tub to accommodate the liner to the size of the tub, said pin serving to maintain the filled liner in shape after the tub has been removed.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a packing liner for use in packing fruit and the like having a removable rod coacting with portions of the liner to hold the same against expansion, the liner, when said rod is removed, being so constructed as to provide expansion of the liner, said rod being of a length greater than the distance between the opposite ends of the liner when within the container thereby permitting the removal of the rod to be effected when the liner is full without disturbance of the content therein and assuring the desired effective placement of the rod by contact of the rod with a wall of the container in which the liner is applied.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN S. RICE. 

